April 1, 2014

Today I want to share another peek behind-the-scenes of how I work, and the work we do, at Braid. When my sister and I started Braid Creative I had already been freelancing for a year. That means for a whole year I was wearing all the hats – from administrative to creative. But launching and growing a business is very different from freelance. In order to grow I needed to learn how to delegate. Some roles were easy to hand off – like accounting. But others were a little more complicated to let go of – like doing 100% of the creative.

When I was freelancing graphic design was my expertise. But at Braid Creative our designs and brand identities are the icing on the cake, so to speak. Because what we’re really giving the solopreneurs we work with is a collaborative method that we go through together to help them clarify their business vision with a deeper understanding of how their dream customer, personal brand, and content-sharing strategy (ie. social media and blogging) play into their own skill sets and core genius. This means my job wasn’t only understanding my client’s design wants and needs but also acting as a consultant and coach. It also means that graphic design was no longer my expertise but just a tool in my toolbox.

For a long time I had the belief that I had to do it all. But as I grew in my own role as a consultant and creative coach it meant I needed to loosen my grip on the title of “designer”. The belief that I had to do it all was only limiting my own ability to expand. It’s taken me a couple of years to really learn how to shift from designer to creative director. It means I have to trust my team and help them grow in their own roles. It means I had to learn to collaborate and delegate – which takes a lot more time and finesse than you’d think.

In the future I’d love to share more on how to delegate and collaborate through a process, but today I’m sharing some of the icing on the cake of what we do for our clients. And I couldn’t have done it by myself. Thanks to my team Kristin, Liz, and Tara.

SEARCH:

SUBSCRIBE:

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL:

THE WORK:

The Braid Method is how I work (with my sister) to help other creatives thrive in the work / life overlap by helping creatives hone in on their business vision and design their life exactly the way they dream it. The Work >

Life Coaching for Creatives is how I coach other creatives through the work / life overlap. Email me at Kathleen@braidcreative.com for more information and availability for 1:1 coaching sessions with me.

LETTERS FOR CREATIVES

When I’m not blogging here or over at Braid, I’m writing
letters for creatives – tackling topics from how to lean into
uncertainty and make a living doing what you love to not
working with clients who make you want to throw up in your
mouth. Sign up here to get these exclusive emails straight to
your inbox.

THE LIFE:

I live and work from my historical home near downtown Oklahoma City with my husband Jeremy and our two cats. I love to open the windows, cook good food, listen to good music, burn some incense and practice yoga. I live for big adventure and beautiful details.